Andreas Wohler: has German Derby favourite Novellist on Sunday
PICTURE: Getty ImagesGovinda gets Wohler off to perfect start
Report: Germany, Friday
Hamburg: Grosser Preis der Jungheinrich Gabelstapler,
(Group 3), 6f, 3yo+
THE German Derby meeting started in the best possible fashion for trainer Andreas Wohler, stable jockey Eduardo Pedroza and breeder Dr. Christoph Berglar, the team responsible for the hot favourite Novellist in Sunday s Deutsches Derby, when Govinda ran out a convincing winner of this Group 3 sprint.
Govinda was drawn on the outside, normally a huge disadvantage here, but Pedroza took the lead at halfway and made the rest of his way home.
At the furlong pole it was clear that nobody was going to get near him and he galloped on strongly to score by two lengths. Swedish hope Tertio Bloom held second by a nose from Dutch challenger Ferro Sensation.
Govinda had won this race as a three-year-old but lost his form last year and was then gelded. He took a long time to recover, but showed better form when second in a valuable race in May in Sweden and was then a close fifth at Frankfurt.
Wohler was not present, but his assistant Christa Germann said that they expected a better run this time, although they were still surprised how easily he won.
The American-bred paid just over 9-1 on the tote, but it was a highly popular result in the press room as owner Peter Brauer is an esteemed colleague. He bought Govinda privately from Dr. Berglar last October.
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